REI Co-op Half Dome 3 Plus Tent Review
The REI Co-op Half Dome 3 Plusbackpacking tent is an entry-level 3-person, 3-season tent that weighs 6 lbs 6 oz and is designed for backpacking (2.89 kg). However, I’ll give you a little spoiler here and tell you that I would suggest this tent more as a two-person car camping tent than as a three-person hiking tent, though there is clearly a case for using it for both purposes. With 10 ft 2 (0.93 m 2) more floor area, wider vestibules, and a peak height that is 2 in / 5 cm higher than the Half Dome 3 Tent, the Half Dome 3 Plus represents a $120 savings over the Half Dome 3 Tent.
- Weight
- Ease of assembly
- Weather resistance
- Durability
- And size when packed.
Testing Conditions
Car camping in the fall and short overnight backpacking excursions with the REI Co-op Half Dome 3 Plus were two of my favorite uses for this backpack. Despite the fact that it has the capacity to sleep three people, I’ve only ever used it as a two-person shelter. It is my firm belief that if you want to be comfortable when hiking, you should use a tent that is designed to accommodate one person more than the number of people who will be sleeping in it.
The Specs
- 6.6 lbs. 6.8 oz. / 2.89 kg
- A minimum weight of 5 lbs. 14 oz. / 2.66 kg (no stuff bag, stakes, or guy lines) is required. It has a capacity of three persons. Seasons: 3-season
- Doors: 2
- Vestibules: 2
- Seasons: 3-season Freestanding:Yes
- DAC Pressfit aluminum poles are required
- The canopy material is 40-denier ripstop nylon
- The interior door material is 20-denier nylon mesh
- The floor material is 70-denier taffeta nylon
- The rainfly material is 40-denier nylon
- And the poles are included. 92 × 80 in (50.1 ft 2) or 234 x 203 cm (4.65 m 2) when packed
- Interior peak height of 46 in (117 cm)
- Floor area of 2.65 m2 when unpacked
- Packed size of 23 x 7 in (58 x 17 cm). Surface Area of Vestibule: 11.25 ft 2 (each) / 1.05 m 2 (each)
- Six compartments (eight if the door stuff pockets are included)
- Color: Blue or green
- MSRP:$279
The Features
- Pole assembly with hubbed ends and color-coded poles
- Panels in the upper portion of the tent for ventilation and views
- Ripstop panels in the lower portion for privacy, as well as to reduce drafts and exposure to blowing dust or dirt
- Mesh panels in the upper portion for ventilation and views
- Ripstop panels in the lower portion for privacy, as well as to reduce exposure to blowing dust or dirt
- The fly enables for the rolling up of the sides and ends. In order to reduce moisture accumulation, there are four ceiling vents in the fly. Doors are tucked away in pockets within the door opening to keep them out of the way. Pockets and hang loops aid in the organization of the inside. There are eight stakes and a stake bag included, as well as guy lines with tighteners and a pole repair tube. In order to decrease water and energy consumption during manufacture, solution-dyed mesh is used.
The Good
Setup of the REI Co-op Half Dome 3 Plus is not difficult and can be completed by a single person (although I would hope that if you’re using this tent, you have someone to assist you in setting it up). It includes a single hubbed pole set with one pole for each corner of the tent and a crossbar that attaches to the inside of each of the two entrances. It is lightweight and easy to assemble. THE VESTIBULES |There are two big vestibules in the tent, each with plenty of space for your gear. Using this as a three-person shelter, you could easily place three packs in one of the vestibules and leave the other vestibule completely unoccupied (for views or bears or catholes).
Each vestibule has two vents on the top (for a total of four).
The Half Dome 3 Plus comes with a total of six pockets on the front and back.
FOR THE MONEY |At $279, this 3-person tent is a good deal less expensive than the average 3-person tent (for $200 less, you can get theREI Co-op Passage 3 Tent, which weighs approximately the same but has a little less floor space).
The Okay
WHEN IT COMES TO THE DOORS | The doors of theREI Co-op Half Dome 3 Plus are a little different in that they are linked to the tent body at their apexes and they zip all the way around (i.e., if you unzip/open a door all the way, the mesh door will hang in the opening). A stuff pocket can be found on either side of the tent, which may be used to store the tent’s entrance if necessary. Even if I’m not in love with the design, it’s useful and, at the very least, visually appealing to me. When all of the pieces are removed from the stuff sack (I never keep my shelters all together in one stuff sack because it makes packing them into a backpack much more difficult), this tent can be packed down to a manageable size – which is especially useful when traveling with another person (or group of people) to share the weight of the tent.
THE BREATHABILITY |There are four overhead vents incorporated into the fly to allow for airflow to be provided.
Aside than that, I’ve never used this tent with three people (the addition of a third person doubles the likelihood of condensation buildup – assuming they don’t breathe very much themselves).
The Bad
THE WEIGHT |There’s no getting around the fact that theREI Co-op Half Dome 3 Plus is a substantial piece of equipment. Even if you were able to divide the weight evenly among three persons, the total weight would be 6 lbs 6 oz / 2.89 kg, meaning that each of you would be carrying 2 lbs 2 oz / 964 g. Tents for one person can be found that weigh less than this (REI’s ownQuarter Dome SL 1 Tent weighs 2 lbs 6 oz / 1.08 kg, for example). A huge floor and vestibule area are provided for the weight, but when utilized as a two-person tent (as I recommend), the cost of this space can be prohibitively expensive (get it?).
- The Half Dome 3 Plustent is designed in such a way that if there are three people using it, two of them will be at the entrances and the third will be in the middle.
- If you’re using it as a two-person shelter (which you should be), this won’t be a problem because you’ll both have your own door and vestibule, which will be convenient.
- Once the stakes are raised, however, there is no way to tweak or tighten any of these points any further.
- Although the tent is self-supporting (i.e., it does not need to be staked out in order to be pitched), a tight pitch (which is made easier with adjustable stake out points) is still recommended in order to maximize floor space and wind resistance.
- The floor of this tent, on the other hand, is composed of 70-denier taffeta nylon, which is fairly durable and shouldn’t necessitate the use of a footprint in most situations.
Who is it for?
BEGINNER BACKPACKERS |As previously said, if you want to be comfortable, the number of people in your tent should be one less than the maximum capacity of the tent. If you’re a couple searching for a reliable (and reasonably priced) first tent that has lots of space, theREI Co-op Half Dome 3 Plusis a fantastic alternative to take into consideration. WEB WARRIORS | WEEKEND WARRIORS | If you and your partner (or even a party of three) embark on regular backpacking excursions, the REI Co-op Half Dome 3 Plus backpack may be a good option for you.
THRU-HIKERS |
If you’re thinking about doing a thru-hike, you’ll probably want to avoid the REI Co-op Half Dome 3 Plus since it’s a little too hefty for this type of trekking in this area.
Having saying that, I would not recommend this tent for a thru-hike.
OTHER APPLICATIONS | (or two people and a dog, or maybe two adults and a child). The beauty of vehicle camping is that you don’t have to worry about weight (or bulk), and when you take these two variables out of the equation, the Half Dome 3 Plus becomes a far more appealing alternative.
Wrap Up
The three-person, three-season, $279, 6 lbs 6 oz / 2.89 kg, three-person, three-season The REI Co-op Half Dome 3 Plus is a well-built tent that is an appealing option for couples who are just starting started in backpacking and are seeking for an economical tent for shorter excursions, as well as vehicle campers who are looking for something dependable and simple to set up. Consider theREI Quarter Dome 3 if you want something that is lighter and less expensive, or theREI Co-op Passage 3 Tent if you want something that is more affordable and more durable than theREI Quarter Dome 3.
The MSR Mutha Hubba NXmay be worth taking a closer look at.
Take a look over there.
This contributes to the payment of expenses and the upkeep of the website.
REI Half Dome 2 Plus Reviews
Paradigm for 2015: REI continues to innovate on its tried-and-true model. They’ve done an excellent job of keeping things straightforward and functional. Model for the year 2010: The combination of being functional, effective, and having enough of room results in a reasonable trade-off for 5lb. Pros
- 2015 model features: simple assembly
- Double doors
- Double vestibules
- 2010 model: simple to assemble
- Roomy
- There are no significant issues about the 2015 model. Grommets, rather than clips, are used to attach the fly with the 2010 model. The taped seam deteriorates far too soon.
Setup for the 2015 model: It’s a straightforward single pole design. It is not a cross pole layout in this case. Instead, it consists of two arches that are supported by a cross pole. Plastic is used for the pole hub. When I was younger, I used to break these kinds of poles by not entering them all the way in and then straining the pole as I bowed it. These kinds of hubs are effective if you use them properly. All you have to do is set the pole in place and stake the corners, and you’re done!
Grommets, rather than clips, are used to attach the fly to the corners of the garment.
They are often less of a nuisance.
The guy cords are tightened with the help of the one-handed friction cinch component.
Stability: I’ve just had this tent for a few weeks this summer.
I’m not sure how sturdy it is in the snow or in strong gusts.
What I appreciate about the top pole is that it produces walls that are virtually vertical, which prevents rain from getting in when you unzip the fly.
In addition, the floor remains dry.
Because this is a recent model, the tape was in perfect condition.
On the fly, there are four vents to choose from.
Mesh covers the top two-thirds of the tent.
It is also possible to roll up half of the fly to form a half-open tent by rolling up half of the fly.
This manner, you can simply unclip the fly and drop it in less than a couple of seconds, saving you time.
A really excellent authentic 2 person tent is created as a result of this.
The vestibules are large enough to accommodate a 75L pack and boots without difficulty.
As a result of the additional area, there are more materials, which raises the overall weight a little.
Despite this, it weighs less than 5 pounds, which is remarkable considering the amount of room it provides.
I’ll leave it to the photo to do the talking.
The tight draw cords for the fly have stayed in place on every occasion thus far.
They were actually rather good.
In my experience, I’m used to needing to gently roll up a door and then clip or put it back in place.
In a 2P tent, ceiling storage is a little more difficult to come by.
They’re a hunk of meat!
This, in my opinion, is an excellent feature.
Construction and Durability: Although the materials are lightweight, they are not fragile in any way.
I believe that the materials used in this model are still of high quality and will survive for a long time if properly cared for.
The item was returned because the previous owner stated that the screen had come free from a seam during the installation process.
I believe that the owner must have produced an excessive amount of force in some way and tore it.
Weather conditions: Pleasant summer weather with a few small raindrops here and there.
Providing you are not concerned with packing 5 pounds, you will receive a favorable tradeoff in the form of plenty of room, decent ventilation, ease of setup, and dependability.
In the center of the top, a short perpendicular cross pole is put.
The rest of the tent is held together by clips.
Clips are my preferred method.
Once the fly is in place, it’s time to stake it out.
Weather resistance: I purchased this model as a secondhand item.
I’d previously used the tent in dry weather without any precipitation and had no problems with it.
Despite the fact that the taped seams were in a semi-deteriorated state (the tape was splitting but not completely flaking off), I was optimistic that they would be salvageable.
Water poured in through every crack and crevice.
By dawn, there were puddles of water on the floor of the tent.
An old Marmot Mountainworks waterproof membrane bag served as my carry-on.
The water was able to seep through the seams of my waterproof bag as a result of this.
Keep an eye out for such seams on any piece of clothing.
It was my own mistake for being overconfident in my abilities.
The good news is that the floor was completely waterproof.
The earth under the surface was completely dry.
According to my own experience, tape can endure for a decade or more if maintained correctly.
The cross pole at the top of the wall creates a wall that is nearly vertical.
The angle is not precisely vertical, but it is close.
Ventilation: Then the tent vents should be OK.
The screen wall rises approximately 6 inches above the ground level.
Condensation can be a minor problem in climates where temperatures fluctuate substantially between night and day.
The tent is in excellent condition after nearly a decade of use.
Conclusion: With the Half Dome 2010, Backpackingmagazine awarded the title of “Gear of the Year.” It’s truly not a surprise. I believe that the Half Dome is a fair value in terms of price to value. Re-seal all of the seams, and you’ll have a comfortable home that will last for a long time.
